CLA Cultural Competence and Awareness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the concept of 'cultural humility' as it applies to CLAs?
- Believing one's own culture is superior to others
- A lifelong commitment to self-reflection and openness about one's own cultural biases (Correct answer)
- Memorizing cultural facts about each client's background
- Deferring all cultural questions to a supervisor
Correct answer: A lifelong commitment to self-reflection and openness about one's own cultural biases
Cultural humility is an ongoing practice of self-reflection, openness, and recognizing that one can never fully know another's cultural experience.
Question 2: A client uses a proverb from their home country during a session. The best action for the CLA is to:
- Interpret the proverb word-for-word
- Find an equivalent expression in English that conveys the same meaning (Correct answer)
- Omit the proverb since it cannot be translated directly
- Ask the client to speak without using figures of speech
Correct answer: Find an equivalent expression in English that conveys the same meaning
The CLA should find a culturally and linguistically equivalent expression in English to preserve the intended meaning of the proverb.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of ethnocentrism that a CLA must avoid?
- Acknowledging that communication styles differ across cultures
- Assuming clients from other cultures should behave according to US norms (Correct answer)
- Learning about a client's cultural background before a session
- Asking for clarification when a cultural reference is unfamiliar
Correct answer: Assuming clients from other cultures should behave according to US norms
Ethnocentrism is the assumption that one's own culture is the standard by which others should be judged, which undermines effective cross-cultural communication.
Question 4: When a client's cultural beliefs affect their healthcare decisions, the CLA should:
- Encourage the client to abandon traditional beliefs
- Accurately interpret both the client's perspective and the provider's guidance without judgment (Correct answer)
- Warn the provider that the client is being non-compliant
- Refuse to interpret requests that conflict with Western medicine
Correct answer: Accurately interpret both the client's perspective and the provider's guidance without judgment
The CLA must remain neutral and interpret both parties' perspectives accurately, allowing the provider to address any concerns about care decisions.
Question 5: Why is it important for a CLA to understand the concept of 'face-saving' in some cultures?
- It allows the CLA to challenge clients who seem ashamed
- It helps the CLA recognize when clients may avoid giving direct negative answers to preserve dignity (Correct answer)
- It enables the CLA to report dishonest clients to service providers
- It allows the CLA to simplify embarrassing content for the client
Correct answer: It helps the CLA recognize when clients may avoid giving direct negative answers to preserve dignity
Face-saving behaviors, such as avoiding direct refusal or admitting ignorance, can affect the accuracy of communication, and the CLA must be aware of this dynamic.
Question 6: A CLA notices a significant cultural mismatch affecting communication between a provider and client. What is the appropriate response?
- Interrupt the session to give a cultural lecture to the provider
- Briefly note the potential cultural issue in a professional and neutral manner (Correct answer)
- Ignore the mismatch and continue interpreting as normal
- Side with the client and advocate against the provider's approach
Correct answer: Briefly note the potential cultural issue in a professional and neutral manner
The CLA may briefly flag a potential cultural misunderstanding in a neutral and professional way to help both parties communicate effectively.
CLA Cultural Competence and Awareness 2
What is the concept of 'cultural humility' as it applies to CLAs?